"Dangerously low": Morale in the U.S. Foreign Service craters under Trump
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A year of upheaval in the U.S. Foreign Service has left a beleaguered workforce struggling to advance the country's diplomatic goals, according to a new survey by the American Foreign Service Association.
Why it matters: The survey paints a grim picture of life in the diplomatic corps since President Trump's administration dismantled key federal agencies and cut thousands of jobs.
- "Morale is dangerously low," said John Dinkelman, president of AFSA, in a statement.
One shocking stat: 98% of the roughly 2,100 Foreign Service members who responded to the voluntary survey reported poor morale.
- "This report is a wake-up call," Dinkelman said in a separate statement. "America's diplomats are being asked to represent and defend this country at a time of growing global instability — while the institution that supports their work is being hollowed out in real time."
Zoom in: 86% said changes the Trump administration instituted since January have affected their ability to advance U.S. diplomatic priorities.
- About two out of three respondents (64%) said key projects and initiatives are being delayed or suspended.
- 61% said they are managing significantly heavier workloads due to staffing losses.
- Nearly a third reported they now plan to leave their posts. In AFSA's 2022 survey, about a quarter of respondents said they might leave before completing a full career.
The big picture: At the start of Trump's term, the administration began dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Agency for Global Media, "eliminating thousands of positions and critical diplomatic capabilities almost overnight," AFSA said in a report on the survey's findings.
- In July, the State Department laid off more than 200 members of the Foreign Service in a single day — the largest number of single-day layoffs in its history, per AFSA.
- "Respondents voiced alarm over the replacement of career positions with political appointees, widespread budget reductions across the foreign affairs agencies, and the erosion of the merit-based systems that govern assignments and promotions," the report said.
The other side: "Secretary Rubio values candid insights from patriotic Americans who have chosen to serve their country," said Thomas Pigott, a State Department spokesperson, in a statement to Axios.
- "In fact, this administration reorganized the entire State Department to ensure those on the front lines — the regional bureaus and the embassies — are in a position to impact policies. What we will not tolerate is people using their positions to actively undermine the duly elected President's objectives."
Go deeper: Trump's name added to U.S. Institute of Peace
Methodology: More than 2,100 AFSA members participated in the electronic survey conducted between August and September.
